LONDON, Mar 10 (Reuters) The leader of the world's largest Muslim body criticised the European Union today for what he described as an unsatisfactory response to the furore over the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), said that by simply regretting that Muslims found the cartoons offensive, EU foreign ministers had not gone far enough at a meeting in Brussels last week.
''We expected the EU to address the issue of cartoons in a more fair way,'' Ihsanoglu told a news conference in London.
''I must say that we are not satisfied with the result of last week's meeting in Brussels. The conclusion published by the European Union fell short of our expectations.'' The 12 cartoons, which Ihsanoglu described as ''insulting, ugly and uncivilised'', were first published by a Danish newspaper and then reprinted by papers across Europe.
They sparked indignation and violence in the Muslim world, where images of the prophet are deemed blasphemous. At least 50 people were killed in anti-Western protests and three Danish embassies were attacked.
The furore exposed a gulf of misunderstanding between the West, which defended the publication by citing the right of free speech, and Muslims who saw it as an attack on their beliefs.
In their February 27 statement, EU foreign ministers issued a strong condemnation of attacks on EU citizens and property.
Diplomats noted the statement was more critical of the Muslim reaction than one issued days earlier by the United Nations, the Arab League and the OIC, an umbrella group of 57 predominantly Muslim nations.
BRITISH INTEGRATION Ihsanoglu, the first IOC secretary general to visit Britain since the body's foundation 37 years ago, praised the level of integration between Britain's Muslims and non-Muslims.
''I think the situation of Muslims here with all honesty is much better than the situation of Muslims elsewhere in Europe,'' he said.
''That shows that the British model is more successful than other models.'' Britain's tradition of multiculturalism has been called into question since last year's London suicide bombings, perpetrated by British-born Muslims. Critics of it say the British should be more forceful in persuading its immigrant communities to abandon their ethnic roots and conform to British traditions.
Ihsanoglu, an Egyptian-born Turk, said he had discussed the bombings and their impact on Britain's 1.6 million Muslims with British Foreign Minister Jack Straw and Home Secretary Charles Clarke during his visit.
''(Muslims) feel they are all under suspicion,'' he said. ''The Muslim community in its entirety should not be held responsible (for the bombings).'' REUTERS KD KN2202
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), said that by simply regretting that Muslims found the cartoons offensive, EU foreign ministers had not gone far enough at a meeting in Brussels last week.
''We expected the EU to address the issue of cartoons in a more fair way,'' Ihsanoglu told a news conference in London.
''I must say that we are not satisfied with the result of last week's meeting in Brussels. The conclusion published by the European Union fell short of our expectations.'' The 12 cartoons, which Ihsanoglu described as ''insulting, ugly and uncivilised'', were first published by a Danish newspaper and then reprinted by papers across Europe.
They sparked indignation and violence in the Muslim world, where images of the prophet are deemed blasphemous. At least 50 people were killed in anti-Western protests and three Danish embassies were attacked.
The furore exposed a gulf of misunderstanding between the West, which defended the publication by citing the right of free speech, and Muslims who saw it as an attack on their beliefs.
In their February 27 statement, EU foreign ministers issued a strong condemnation of attacks on EU citizens and property.
Diplomats noted the statement was more critical of the Muslim reaction than one issued days earlier by the United Nations, the Arab League and the OIC, an umbrella group of 57 predominantly Muslim nations.
BRITISH INTEGRATION Ihsanoglu, the first IOC secretary general to visit Britain since the body's foundation 37 years ago, praised the level of integration between Britain's Muslims and non-Muslims.
''I think the situation of Muslims here with all honesty is much better than the situation of Muslims elsewhere in Europe,'' he said.
''That shows that the British model is more successful than other models.'' Britain's tradition of multiculturalism has been called into question since last year's London suicide bombings, perpetrated by British-born Muslims. Critics of it say the British should be more forceful in persuading its immigrant communities to abandon their ethnic roots and conform to British traditions.
Ihsanoglu, an Egyptian-born Turk, said he had discussed the bombings and their impact on Britain's 1.6 million Muslims with British Foreign Minister Jack Straw and Home Secretary Charles Clarke during his visit.
''(Muslims) feel they are all under suspicion,'' he said. ''The Muslim community in its entirety should not be held responsible (for the bombings).'' REUTERS KD KN2202
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